Abstract: Systems and methods for conveying multiple low-bit-rate data streams over a data transport medium which is configured to transport data in a single, high-bit-rate data stream. In one embodiment, a plurality of low-bit-rate signals are received and a corresponding data rate is determined. Each of the signals is formatted in frames comprising a payload and overhead data. The high-bit-rate signal is also formatted in frames comprising a payload and overhead data, but the frames (including payload and overhead) contain more bits than those of the low-bit-rate frames. The payloads of the low-bit-rate frames are mapped into the payloads of the high-bit-rate frames. The overhead and timing data of the low-bit-rate frames are mapped into the unused portion of the overhead of the high-bit-rate frames. After the high-bit-rate signal is transported, the payload, overhead and timing data of each of the low-bit-rate signals is extracted, and the corresponding signals are reproduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for routing optical data. In one embodiment of the present invention, data can routed in a non-blocking fashion from a plurality of the ingress edge units to a plurality of egress edge units by selectively connecting the ingress edge units to the egress edge units at a photonic core. Switching at the photonic core can be driven by a clock signal and does not require an electrical to optical conversion to occur at the core. This can allow switching on the nanosecond level, substantially faster than many prior art systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical cross connects which switch data at a container (packet) level. In one embodiment, a plurality of optical switch edges are coupled to an optical switch core via a minimal number of optical fibers. The switch core is configured to optically switch data from an ingress edge to one of a plurality of egress edges in a nonblocking fashion. The ingress edge receives data streams and distributes the data among a plurality of container processors. Each of these container processors produces an optical signal of a different wavelength, which can then be multiplexed with others to form a multiple-wavelength optical signal that is transmitted to the switch core. The switch core then switches successive portions (containers) of the multiple-wavelength signal to the egress edges to which they are respectively destined. The respective egress edges perform the reverse of this process to form output data signals.

Abstract: An architecture and related systems for improving the performance of non-blocking data switching systems. In one embodiment, a switching system includes an optical switching core coupled to a plurality of edge units, each of which has a set of ingress ports and a set of egress ports. The switching system also contains a scheduler that maintains two non-blocking data transfer schedules, only one of which is active at a time. Data is transferred through the switching system according to the active schedule. The scheduler monitors the sufficiency of data transferred according to the active schedule and, if the currently active schedule is insufficient, the scheduler recomputes the alternate schedule based on demand data received from the edges/ports and activates the alternate schedule. A timing mechanism is employed to ensure that the changeover to the alternate schedule is essentially simultaneous among the components of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting data from one point to another by transparently converting the data from an initial form into an intermediate form for transport via a transmission or transport medium, and then converting the data back into the initial form, wherein the bit sequence and timing of the original data stream are reproduced. Timing data of the input data stream is identified and inserted into the data for transport. The timing data is extracted from the received data and used to reproduce the timing of the original data stream in the delivered data stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides method for data packet processing in a telecommunications system. The method of the present invention can include the steps of (i) determining a set of classification parameters for a data packet at an ingress edge unit, wherein the classification parameters include a packet destination, (ii) communicating the data packet to an egress edge unit and (iii) routing the data packet to a destination egress port at the egress edge unit according the classification parameters determined at the ingress edge unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, the classification parameters can include a destination egress edge unit, a destination egress port at the destination egress edge unit, and quality of service parameter for proper processing of the data packet.